A typical domestic scene of a squatter’s timber cottage has been captured by many colonial artists such as S. Prout, S. T. Gill and others. The paintings generally show a group of people, usually male, sitting in front of a large walk-in fireplace which is lit by a blazing timber fire. Occasionally a candle stuck into an empty bottle is seen on the table in the plainly decorated room or the most basic lard impregnated cloth lights might be seen on the hearth in the flickering light of the fireplace. Most of the early working men’s huts, were equipped in this fashion; a more decorative interior with lined walls, blinds and oil cloth or matting floor usually indicated the presence of a woman in the home.

When settlers arrived with their wives, cash and possessions, interiors showed a marked improvement in elegance and comfort. As soon as they were able, the settlers built larger homes replacing the tents and bark humpies or upgraded and improved upon existing homes. By 1822 Sydney had 59 stone, 221 brick and 773 wooden homes and by 1841 the statistics showed that there were 769 homes in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria.

Interiors were made practical and comfortable, following the dictates of English trends and, except for the very rich, lighting was not a priority. As late as the 1830s, Louise Anne Meredith gave a dank description in her diary of home lighting in the colony ‘where candles are not attainable, a light is procured by a bit of rag rolled up stuck into an old cup or pannikin full of dripping and lighted. Homemade mould (tallow) candles are generally used in houses where wax-lights are dispensed with, and certainly vary more in quality than any other article of domestic manufacture.’

Later paintings of the interiors of well-to-do settlers’ residences attest to this dismal picture of domestic lighting. There was small consolation in the fact that the general quality of light fittings and equipment had significantly improved in standard.

Finely crafted candlesticks and custom made blinds were now proudly displayed in parlours, replacing the bottles and tin pans that were used in the kitchens cum dining rooms in previous decades. S. T. Gill’s interior watercolour of the Noufflard’s house in Bligh Street, Sydney in 1856 depicts a scene common to many early Victorian homes.

The drawing room or parlour is lit by a pair of tall elegant candlesticks placed on a central table around which the family and friends would gather at night to read, write, sing or socialise. Often a vase of flowers would be placed in the centre of the table in an arrangement to complement the candlesticks. Sometimes an additional pair of candles would illuminate a piano on which a member of the family would play.

In wealthier homes the number of candlesticks might be increased to include a pair of candlelabra on the overmantel of the fireplace; alternatively an additional pair of two- or three-branched candle wall sconces might be positioned on either side of the sideboard, chiffonier or mirror hung over the fireplace in either the dining or drawing rooms. The rest of the house would be in darkness except, perhaps, for the entry hall where an enclosed hanging lantern would burn one or more candles to illuminate the way for visitors. A candlestick would have been taken to light the way to the bedroom, but these were not kept in bedrooms; they were brought to the kitchen each morning to be trimmed and maintained. The article brought to you by laser hair removal services.

The next step for organisations requiring professional health and safety

General health and safety goods / services.

Currently organisations go to a number of suppliers for their health and safety products and services (sometimes as many as 15 different suppliers). Today’s world demands a more efficient model. Hence the HSP (Health safety and protective) superstore has come into existence.

Many organisations are now exploiting these new HSP Superstores as: they offer huge economies; their ability to offer 360 degree support within the domain of health, safety and protection 24 hours a day is unprecedented; and their level of skill in the HSP domain is hard to rival. Combined these reasons make an extremely compelling case for using them as opposed to a number of suppliers that are out of sync and all need management (tremendous internal effort and expense).

Personal Health and safety - “No more excuses” they have a number of the best products to protect you and your family at home. Products include: first aid kits, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and anti-flood damage devices.

Workplace health and safety - all employers have a duty of care as regards the health and safety of their employees, documented legal and unwritten moral codes underpin these responsibilities. HSP superstores also have a first-class training functions that vends best in class training.

For example: Fire safety, First Aid, IOSH Training, NEBOSH Training and many other courses are usually available for a number of areas. All of which will be delivered by professional, experienced and qualified trainers/consultants.

HSP Superstores can usually offer a consistent high level of service because they utilise a business model that allows them to use the best resources which intern means the client gets the best advice money can buy at a competitive rate.

Chance Favours the Prepared

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Ever since the bicycle was invented in the early 1800s, this two-wheeled transporter has had a huge impact on society. Today it’s estimated there are around one billion bicycles in the world and, according to singer Katie Melua, nine million of those are in Beijing! It’s not in question that cycling remains the principal means of transport for much of the world’s population.

It was in 1817 that Karl von Drais invented his “hobby horse”, a wooden bicycle with wheels but no pedals or chain. You pushed along with your feet, but it was still faster than walking.

Around 1840 Kirkpatrick Macmillan from Scotland took the next step by adding pedals. The “Safety Bicycle”, with gears and a chain to drive the rear wheel, became popular around 1885 while the introduction of the pneumatic tyre, not long after, made a big difference to rider comfort, helping public acceptance of the new design.

But it was only in the 1930s that cycles became a popular form of transport as a result of reduced production costs coupled with higher wages.

Having played such a pivotal role in society during the last century, it’s natural that the bicycle has been - and still is - a popular subject for artists and photographers.

This has resulted in a wonderfully diverse selection of cycling posters and vintage bicycle posters, in the form of art reproductions, becoming  accessible to those for whom originals or limited-edition prints are just too costly.

Thanks to modern technology and advances in digital printing, it’s now feasible to produce low numbers of art reproductions at affordable prices. And, while prices have come down for small print runs, the caliber of art prints and posters has gotten better. Advanced inkjet printers using a wide array of inks can produce brilliant, pure colors, exceptional detail and subtle hues previously only achievable with very expensive machinery.

This means the normal art enthusiast now has access to modern cycling posters and vintage bicycle prints reproduced from original artwork. Reproductions are made on fade-resistant materials and often include stretched canvas prints, providing an even more authentic appearance.

Giclée bicycle prints (pronounced “zhee-clay”), a form of inkjet print that comes from the French term meaning to spray or squirt, offer additional options. Giclée prints can be produced on a variety of paper surfaces, including various finishes such as watercolor paper, cotton canvas, or artist textured vinyl.

When choosing cycling posters or vintage bicycle prints, one has various framing options available that allow one to infuse the artwork with personal taste, ensuring a degree of originality. Choosing a frame that complements not only the print but also the interior design space will add immensely to one’s appreciation of the artwork.

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